Human Milk Concentration for Premature Infants

(NEOMOM Trial)

EN
Overseen ByElizabeth Nelson, PhD
Age: < 18
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Academic
Sponsor: Mother's Milk is Best
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a new device, the Human Milk Concentration Device, to determine if it can safely concentrate nutrients in breast milk for preterm infants. The goal is to assess whether babies fed this nutrient-rich milk grow and remain healthy as well as those receiving regular fortified milk. Researchers will examine how well babies tolerate the feeding, their weight gain, and the associated costs. Babies born between 32 and 34 weeks who are already being fed their mother's milk might be suitable candidates. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative research that could enhance nutrition for preterm infants.

What prior data suggests that this human milk concentration device is safe for preterm infants?

Research shows that using a device to concentrate nutrients in human milk for premature babies is likely safe. This device increases the nutrient content of human milk without adding cow's milk-based supplements. This is important because studies have found that cow's milk-based supplements can lead to more health problems in premature babies. Using this device avoids the risks linked to cow's milk additives.

Human milk helps premature babies grow and stay healthy. Research indicates that a diet made entirely of human milk can reduce the need for other feeding methods and support better growth and development over time.

While specific data on the exact safety of this device is lacking, using only human milk is generally seen as beneficial for premature babies. This suggests that the human milk concentration device is safe and potentially advantageous.12345

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Unlike standard treatments for premature infants, which often involve supplementing mother's milk with cow's milk-based fortifiers or formula, the Human Milk Concentration (HMC) device offers a unique approach. It concentrates the mother's own milk, boosting its nutrient density without adding any bovine-derived products. This method preserves the natural properties and benefits of human milk while potentially providing the additional nutrients that preterm infants need to thrive. Researchers are excited about this treatment because it could enhance infant nutrition and development while minimizing exposure to non-human milk components.

What evidence suggests that this human milk concentration device is effective for premature infants?

Research has shown that using a device to concentrate human milk can benefit premature babies. In this trial, one group of preterm infants will receive enteral feedings of their mother's own milk (MOM) concentrated with the human milk concentration device, which boosts nutrient density without bovine-derived fortifiers. Studies have found that this method can enhance brain and vision development and strengthen the immune system. Evidence indicates that concentrated MOM aids preterm babies' growth by increasing milk nutrients without cow's milk-based supplements. This approach may also reduce the risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in these infants. Overall, the human milk concentration device presents a promising alternative to standard cow's milk-based supplements, which will be used in the comparator group of this trial.16789

Who Is on the Research Team?

ST

Sarah Taylor, MD

Principal Investigator

Yale University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

Inclusion Criteria

Birth at 32 0/7 to 34 5/7 weeks' gestational age, with a birthweight above 1500 grams and receiving MOM
My baby started tube or oral feeding within 2 days after birth and meets NICU guidelines for extra nutrition.
Multiples are eligible and will be randomized to the same group since the intervention affects MOM preparation

Exclusion Criteria

Feeds not started by 2 days post-birth
Expected hospital discharge within 14 days post-birth
Fortification/supplementation not ordered by 5 days post-birth
See 6 more

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Treatment

Preterm infants receive enteral feedings of mother's own milk, either concentrated using the HMC device or supplemented with cow's milk-based fortifier or formula.

Up to 28 days or until hospital discharge
Daily monitoring in NICU

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for growth velocity, serum phosphate levels, and overall clinical stability.

Up to 28 days or until hospital discharge
Routine clinical evaluations and laboratory assessments

Resource Utilization Assessment

Evaluation of cost and resource utilization associated with feeding strategies, including preparation time, supply costs, and total NICU cost of care.

Up to 10 weeks or until hospital discharge

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

  • Human Milk Concentration Device

How Is the Trial Designed?

2

Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Active Control

Group I: HMC-Concentrated MOMExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Group II: Standard Fortified Feeding (MOM + Fortifier/Formula)Active Control1 Intervention

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Mother's Milk is Best

Lead Sponsor

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Collaborator

Trials
2,103
Recruited
2,760,000+

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Collaborator

Trials
872
Recruited
12,930,000+

Weill Medical College of Cornell University

Collaborator

Trials
1,103
Recruited
1,157,000+

Yale University

Collaborator

Trials
1,963
Recruited
3,046,000+

Citations

Comparison of the short-term neonatal outcomes of preterm ...

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A Systematic Review on the Impact of Donor ...

We found substantial evidence gaps in understanding how DHM treatments influence health and growth in premature infants. Research prioritizing ...

Concentrating Human Milk: An innovative point-of-care device ...

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a point-of-care osmotic device concentrates important human milk (HM) nutrients to support feeding neonates ...

Point-of-care human milk concentration by passive osmosis

Feeding preterm infants, MOM improves brain, vision, microbiome, and immune system development and reduces the incidence of bronchopulmonary ...

Early Routine vs. Selective Human Milk Fortification in ...

Infants in the SF group will have human milk increased to 180 mL/kg/day (120 kcal/kg/day) and maintained at this volume unless fortification is ...

Human milk-based fortifiers cut mortality rate by 50% in ...

“The data associates bovine (cow) milk-based fortifiers with a potentially increased risk of death in preterm infants, which makes a reversal possibly necessary ...

Evidence summary of human milk fortifier in preterm infants

This study summarized the best evidence for human milk fortifier in preterm infants. Medical staff should assess the specific clinical conditions and parental ...

8.

mmib.health

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MMIB – Helping premature babies survive to thrive

Revolutionizing preterm infant feeding with our human milk concentration device that allows for optimized use of human milk in four easy steps.

Human Milk-Based Fortifiers Cut Mortality Rate by 50% in ...

PRNewswire/ -- An independent study published in the journal Nutrients found a 50% reduction in mortality among preterm infants fed human ...